Considering that you're reading a blog with a bar theme, this quick tip probably won't surprise you. Did you know that all 275 or so episodes of Cheers are right there on Netflix's streaming service for you to enjoy? We've been watching an episode every couple of days, and have been really enjoying the experience.Cheers ran on NBC from 1982 to 1993, and because it still feels fresh now, it must have really felt like something new and exciting when it debuted. I mean, for the most part, every episode takes place in a single room: a bar filled with people. The execs who considered whether or not to green light Cheers must have been terrified that the show- aside from promoting drinking- would be endlessly claustrophobic.
To be sure, things happen outside the bar, but we only learn about those things from the people inside the bar when they talk about them. There's "plot", but again, it's imparted via the dialogue in the bar. And they kept this going for eleven years! And it never was claustrophobic, or static, or dull.
My favorite movies, books, and TV shows always seem be dialogue-driven. There's nothing like great lines, great banter, and even a great speech now and then. Cheers delivered all that, and actually defined itself via those things. Anyway, it's been fun seeing the gang again every couple of days, and basking in sharp, funny, character-driven writing.
If you haven't visited Cheers lately, you might want to get reacquainted with this classic series.
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